PEMBROKE — The ribbon was cut Friday during a historic ceremony that marked the opening of the Public Schools of Robeson County Career and Technical Education Center and Planetarium and Science Center (Robeson CTEC).
Local, state and county officials gathered to witness the historic milestone, marking the culmination of more than a decade of planning and collaboration.
“The future of Robeson County is shaped by the investment today that we are making in education. Let us embrace this opportunity as a symbol of progress and possibility,” Dr. Freddie Williamson said.
As Dr. Williamson reflected on work that brought the project to fruition, PSRC Interim Superintendent Dr. Bill Harrison looked ahead to the opportunities the facility will create for generations of students.
“On behalf of all those young people that I will have the opportunity and privilege to serve Sept. 1. Thank you for giving our young people an opportunity to realize their dreams,” Dr. Harrison said. “We’re not only preparing them for the jobs that exist today but we are preparing them for jobs we can’t even imagine.”
Building
Spanning nearly 110,000 square feet, Robeson CTEC is designed to connect classroom learning with real-world career opportunities. The state-of-the-art facility will provide students with hands-on training, industry-aligned instruction and opportunities to earn credentials and gain valuable experience that can prepare them for high-demand, high-wage careers after graduation.
The new facility will replace the Robeson County Career Center, expanding Career and Technical Education opportunities for students across the district while also becoming home to the newly constructed Robeson Planetarium and Science Center. The planetarium replaces the former facility that was destroyed as a result of Hurricane Matthew.
“What makes this project truly special isn’t the building, but it’s what the building will do,” said Aaron Thomas, Metcon President and CEO.
“We believe that what we build should leave the communities we build in stronger. One of the most powerful investments is the one we just made here investing in our young people,” Thomas added.
Programs and Partnerships
Robeson CTEC will offer programs in Drone Technology, Culinary Arts, Mechatronics, Welding, Automotive Technology, Drafting Engineering, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Graphic and Webpage Design, Carpentry, Masonry, Plumbing and Electrical Systems.
The superintendent also thanked the Robeson County Commissioners, County Manager Kellie Blue and Roger Oxendine, director of the COMtech Board of Directors, for their collaboration in making a land exchange that secured road frontage for the new facility. Dr. Williamson also highlighted the district’s strong partnerships with Robeson Community College and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which will help strengthen educational and career pathways for students.
“I always say it takes a village,” RCC President Melissa Singler said. “This facility represents years of vision, leadership collaboration and dedication. This center will be an economic catalyst for Robeson County and Robeson Community College is proud to be part of this village.”
UNC Pembroke Chancellor Dr. Robin Cummings echoed the sentiment.
“This is what a good educational ecosystem looks like; it's creating pathways and not silos,” Dr. Cummings said. “ I want to congratulate the students of Robeson County who are here and those to come. The people here in this facility will influence lives for years to come.”
Impact
Robeson County Commissioner John Cummings also shared a special charge to CTEC staff.
“To everyone here that had a part put this building together now, we are handing it over to you and your staff to build the best workforce that this county can ever turn out,” Cummings said. “I charge you to train our future.”
For Robeson County, a stronger workforce can also lead to greater economic opportunity. Preparing skilled workers will help meet the needs of existing employers, support the recruitment of new industries and give more students opportunities to build successful careers close to home.
“By connecting our students with hands-on training and local employers, we will provide a stronger workforce and keep talented people right here in Robeson County,” Dr. Williamson said.
That connection between education and economic growth was echoed by others who helped bring the project to life.
“Strong schools create vibrant communities and vibrant communities create an economically sustainable future. Schools come first,” said Robbie Ferris, President, CEO and Owner of sfL+a Architects. “Schools are the seed.”
Robeson CTEC will have an impact that reaches beyond Robeson County. By giving students hands-on training, industry credentials and experience in high-demand fields, the center will help build a stronger workforce pipeline for both the county and North Carolina.
The center also supports the goals of myFutureNC, which aims for 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 to hold an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. Robeson CTEC will contribute to that goal by helping more students earn credentials and prepare for continued education, training or employment.
Planetarium and Science Center
The new Robeson Planetarium and Science Center will be a place where students can dream, discover and begin imagining what their futures could look like. The center will feature a planetarium, lobby and makerspace where students can participate in interactive science lessons, hands-on STEM activities and engaging educational experiences.
The center will also serve as a valuable resource for field trips and student learning, giving students from across Robeson County opportunities to experience science beyond the traditional classroom.
Its location within Robeson CTEC will create another unique opportunity for students to see career and technical education in action. While visiting the center, younger students may see CTE students training in areas such as automotive technology, culinary arts, mechatronics, health sciences and other skilled career fields—helping them connect what they are learning today with careers they may pursue in the future.
“We want students to walk through these doors and feel like the universe just got a whole lot bigger,” said Ken Brandt, Director of the Robeson Planetarium and Science Center. “One minute, they may be traveling across the solar system and the next, discovering a career they never knew existed. If we can send them home with stars in their eyes, questions in their heads and a new dream for their future, then I’d say we’ve had a pretty good day.”
The planetarium will also offer public shows, extending the center’s educational impact to families and community members.
“By bringing together STEM exploration, career exposure and community learning, the Robeson Planetarium and Science Center will be a place where curiosity can grow and students can begin dreaming about the possibilities ahead,” said PSRC Science Supervisor Susan Miller-Hendrix.
Investment
The $87.2 million Robeson CTEC project is being made possible through a combination of state, county and local funding sources. Funding includes $62 million from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, $2.5 million from the Robeson County Board of Commissioners, $2.5 million from Public Schools of Robeson County, and $5 million allocated by state legislators, including Danny Britt, to replace the planetarium and science center. The remaining $15.2 million will be jointly funded by the county and the school district, each covering half.
“This is about much more than a new school. It is an investment in our children and in the future of our community. By giving students meaningful opportunities to succeed in vocational and technical fields, we can help them see a future for themselves, one that may keep them engaged in school and prepare them for a successful career,” said NC Senator Danny Britt.
“I understand that people have different views about the lottery, but these education dollars are allowing us to make investments that can change lives. This school will create opportunities for students who may have otherwise struggled to find their place in a traditional academic path,” Britt added.
With the ribbon now cut, Robeson CTEC begins its next chapter — turning more than a decade of vision and investment into opportunities for generations of students to come.
For more information about Robeson CTEC or the planetarium, visit robeson.k12.nc.us.